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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

putting free papers on train carriage floor

32 replies

Angelik · 16/07/2015 17:44

so I'm on my way home on the train and having finished reading the free paper absent mindedly put it on seat next to me. this is out of character for me. I usually put on lap or wedge between me and wall (depending where i am sitting) and put it on luggage rack for others to read or in the bin as I disembark. however, today I didn't. another passenger sat next to me and dropped paper on floor. I find this odd. I see this as littering. she could have asked if it was mine as a way of politely asking for it to be moved (or am I too passive aggressive?).

anyway, long story short I picked it up and put it on rack. she got shirty and firm words were exchanged. I wasn't impressed with her style of debate which was to tell me to shut up and that I wasn't filled with bags of intelligence but that is the long version Grin

OP posts:
Flashbangandgone · 16/07/2015 18:52

YANBU.... It's littering and inconsiderate

gamerwidow · 16/07/2015 19:00

You do realise putting into the luggage rack or shoving it down the side of the seat is still littering?
Unless you were planning on taking the paper home and disposing of it correctly you're as much a part of the problem as she was.

Original poster
Angelik · 16/07/2015 19:00

the only endorsement I needed to hear after a rubbish work day which has left me doubting my judgement.

home now with dc. lovely

OP posts:
DoJo · 16/07/2015 19:06

You do realise putting into the luggage rack or shoving it down the side of the seat is still littering?

Except that either of those means that it is readily available for someone else who might want to read it, in a way that throwing it on the floor doesn't, IMO.

DoJo · 16/07/2015 19:06

You do realise putting into the luggage rack or shoving it down the side of the seat is still littering?

Except that either of those means that it is readily available for someone else who might want to read it, in a way that throwing it on the floor doesn't, IMO.

joopy79 · 16/07/2015 19:12

It recycling, not littering if you leave it for someone else. I always read second hand papers on the tube and often pass them on to other commuters when I've finished.

BackforGood · 16/07/2015 19:41

YANBU OP

I agree with DoJo that if you leave it on the rack or seat, then the next person can read it - once it's been trodden on, it's less attractive.

ProudAS · 16/07/2015 20:04

If a paper has been left on a seat then I don't think that reading it and putting it back where it was is littering (although I can see the counter argument). Someone else might as well get use of it. I often find free papers left on trains and it just seems to be the done thing.

CharlieAustinsMagicHat · 16/07/2015 20:07

But there will always be papers left which don't get picked up and read and will need collecting by the cleaners at the end of the night so there are ultimately litter.

Aridane · 16/07/2015 20:10

TFL don't like the 'altruistic' leaving of papers behind for other public transport users as they end up as dirty litter. I don't particularly like someone's manky paper left behind on an empty seat I want to sit on.mso I'm with gamerwidow (and TFL) on this one Blush

DJThreeDog · 16/07/2015 20:12

On trains, it is the norm to leave free papers on the seat for others to read. I imagine if the litter it created was that terrible then they would stop allowing free papers in stations?!

YANBU OP. Throwing it on the floor is littering. Leaving it readily available to read is not.

(On a bus I would put it back in the holder though).

TelephoneIgnoringMachine · 16/07/2015 20:15

I don't see the issue with putting it on the seat - there are a limited number printed (better for environment & the train company's finances) so surely it's better to make sure that your paper is available for the next person to read? By the end of the day (where I live) some of the papers have evidently been read several times.

TelephoneIgnoringMachine · 16/07/2015 20:16

Pretty certain I've seen the conductor come round & pick up torn papers, or any on the floor. They specifically leave the ones on the seats or overhead rack.

Toughasoldboots · 16/07/2015 20:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Aridane · 17/07/2015 07:05

Whilst it may the etiquette among passengers to leave newspapers behind, for those us associated with TFL, this causes some problems and extra work for us - and it would seem the TFL advertising, 'The newspaper you are reading is rubbish', doesn't seem to have worked... Blush

tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2012/february/read-it-and-bin-it-newspapers-can-cause-tube-delays

RachelRagged · 17/07/2015 08:44

The other passenger was BVU .

I have read papers left on trains and put it in luggage rack when I get off. Not that I am a regular train traveller,, buses are usual for me .

muminhants1 · 17/07/2015 08:48

On South West Trains you are supposed to leave them in the overhead rack so that they can be recycled (and of course read by others). I don't know about other rail companies though.

RachelRagged · 17/07/2015 08:54

I usually see them in the overhead rack though at times they are left on seat. London trains, Southern Rail (not sure) ,

limitedperiodonly · 17/07/2015 09:15

I fold them and put them neatly on the floor under my feet. I wouldn't put a newspaper on a chair at home so I don't do it on the train. I realise the train seats are probably dirty but I just can't do it.

People have given me dirty looks but I ignore them.

What really gets me are people who shove half finished drink cans and coffee cups down the side of seats. Do people who do that imagine some thirsty traveller will be grateful for a drink?

I put them on the floor too.

Original poster
Angelik · 17/07/2015 09:30

a good reason for not leaving on the floor is they create more mess as they get kicked around, end up shredded or dragged onto platforms. also on wet days they are very slippery! i have skidded along several times on a wet abandoned paper. limited maybe you could consider this before putting it on the floor next time?

I didn't know TFL were trying to clean them up. I've never seen the campaign despite travelling in and out of London Monday to Friday. I will now put them in the bin as I disembark. providing the bin is there of course - they are often missing of already full.

OP posts:
limitedperiodonly · 17/07/2015 09:44

I'll carry on doing it with rubbish that people leave on seats OP.

If I have a newspaper I read it and then put it in my bag and take it with me. I don't leave it behind. That's littering.

I don't know you've missed the TfL cartoon adverts with twee poems asking you not to leave litter behind including newspapers. There's usually at least one in every carriage. Just look up. You'll see them.

They also ask you not to eat smelly food, play music through shitty headphones or bash people with your ginormous rucksack.

I can't understand why people need to be told these things.

DoJo · 17/07/2015 09:49

limitedperiodonly

Why not put them in the bins if you are going to go to the effort of moving them?

Timetodrive · 17/07/2015 09:51

dislike people who mark seats with their stuff, empty seats should be left empty but I would not chuck litter on the floor.

limitedperiodonly · 17/07/2015 10:03

DoJo newspapers do not belong on seats. They are dirty. I take my own rubbish with me. It's not my job to clear up after other people.

I don't want to sit next to half-finished drinks in case the train lurches and they spill on me. Neither do I want to sit clutching them for my journey and then throw them in the bin for the lazy person who left them behind.

Ilovecrapcrafts · 17/07/2015 10:07

To be fair, there used to be a number of free papers (ie London lite) and the mess was awful until they were banned, probably for that very reason.

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